UNICEF Innocenti Research Briefs - Methods: Conducting Research with Adolescents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries 

The world is home to 1.2 billion adolescents: the largest cohort of this age-group in history. Adolescence is a critical period of cognitive, emotional, physical and sexual development with consequences that stretch far into adulthood. The period also provides a second “window of opportunity” to build on early investments, promote positive behaviors, and offer a second chance to those who fared less well in early childhood.

90 percent of adolescents live in low- and middle-income countries. Despite an increasing focus on their well-being, comprehensive data collection systems and research for effective interventions are lacking. This is particularly true for younger and disadvantaged adolescents.

Developed with Columbia University and experts from the Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing this series of briefs provides a much needed review of contemporary research methodologies for adolescent well-being in low- and middle-income countries, covering: indicators and data sources, ethics, research with disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, participatory research, measurement of the social and structural determinants of adolescent health, and adolescent economic strengthening interventions. 

The aim of these briefs is to improve efforts to collect rigorous evidence for programs and policies on adolescent health and well-being. They will assist a wide range of professionals and stakeholders who conduct, commission or interpret research findings to make decisions about programming, policy, and advocacy.

This initiative was funded by the UK Department for International Development.

The Editors of the series were John Santelli, MD, MPH, Columbia University and Nikola Balvin, PsyD, UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti.

View each brief:

Improving the Methodological Quality of Research in Adolescent Well-being


BRIEF #1

IMPROVING THE METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY OF RESEARCH IN ADOLESCENT WELL-BEING

Authors: Nicola J. Reavley; Susan M. Sawyer

 
 
 
 
 
 

Data and Indicators to Measure Adolescent Health, Social Development and Well-being


BRIEF #2

DATA AND INDICATORS TO MEASURE ADOLESCENT HEALTH, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING

Authors: Peter Azzopardi; Elissa Kennedy; George C Patton

 
 
 
 
 
 

Inclusion with Protection: Obtaining informed consent when conducting research with adolescents


BRIEF #3

INCLUSION WITH PROTECTION: OBTAINING INFORMED CONSENT WHEN CONDUCTING RESEARCH WITH ADOLESCENTS

Authors: John Santelli; Sonia Haerizadeh; Terry McGovern

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Research with Disadvantaged, Vulnerable and/or Marginalized Adolescents

BRIEF #4

RESEARCH WITH DISADVANTAGED, VULNERABLE AND/OR MARGINALIZED ADOLESCENTS

Authors: Colette L. Auerswald; Amber Akemi Piatt; Ali Mirzazadeh

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adolescent Participation in Research: Innovation, rationale and next steps

BRIEF #5

ADOLESCENT PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH: INNOVATION, RATIONALE AND NEXT STEPS

Authors: Emily J. Ozer; Amber Akemi Piatt

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
How to Measure Enabling and Supportive Systems for Adolescent Health

BRIEF #6

HOW TO MEASURE ENABLING AND SUPPORTIVE SYSTEMS FOR ADOLESCENT HEALTH

Author: Russell Viner

 
 
 
 
 
 

Methodologies to Capture the Multidimensional Effects of Economic Strengthening Interventions


BRIEF #7

METHODOLOGIES TO CAPTURE THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC STRENGTHENING INTERVENTIONS

Authors: Fred M. Ssewamala; Laura Gauer Bermudez

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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